Interview: Stew On The State Of The Union
I’m sure stranger things have happened on Broadway than a brilliantly scrappy Los Angeles psych-punk band – provocatively named the Negro Problem – evolving into a Tony Award-winning musical. But I really can’t think of any. Still, that’s what happened to guitar-slinging, Godard-quoting, rockin’-soul singer Stew and his bass-bumping artistic henchwoman and former squeeze, Heidi…
99Problems Swaps Hip-Hop Mixtape For Census Pledge
“We gotta lotta problems in my hood/ The Man ain’t puttin’ a lotta dollars in my hood,” raps Miss Nana on Numbers Don’t Lie, the excellent hip-hop mix 99Problems.org wants to lay on you in return for a pledge to participate in this year’s census. Like Voto Latino‘s similar deal, 99Problems’ offer attempts to raise…
One Step Off Forward, Two Back
Did a group of white girls break a color boundary by winning last month’s Sprite Step Off competition? Or was it just another controversial case of African-American culture getting ripped off once again by the dancing equivalents of Vanilla Ice? Zeta Tau Alpha’s Epsilon Chapter of the University of Arkansas were the surprise victors of…
Calling all Crows
HeadCount partner artist State Radio and their service organization Calling All Crows have teamed up for their first ever “Alternative Break Tour.” A second tour bus filled with excited volunteers is following the band on the road participating in volunteer projects with local nonprofits during the day and rocking out at the State Radio show…
Climate Change Movement Digs Self Out Of Snow
When a pair of snowstorms pounded Washington DC, climate-change skeptics were quick to call for an end to any discussion of global warming or climate-related legislation. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) tweeted, “It’s going to keep snowing until Al Gore cries uncle,” and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin called global warming “snake oil science.” It’s left…
Tapers Never Die
You kids have absolutely no idea how easy you’ve got it. When I was a lad hungry for live Grateful Dead tapes, gluttons like myself were often forced to interact with total strangers via snail mail, sending blank cassettes and return postage in order to score sketchy dupes of dupes of analog dupes. And we…
Making Our Voice Heard On Climate Change
The following was written for The Huffington Post: Nearly a year and a half ago, a record number of young voters turned out for the presidential election. Since then, civic-engagement organizations such as HeadCount have been fighting a sometimes difficult battle to keep young people excited about political participation. It isn’t easy. The paralysis in…
Interview: Steve Martocci On Rewarding Fans, Activists
If you put yourself out there for a band or a cause, you should get something for it. And Steve Martocci has the technology to make that happen. The Sympact CEO has developed personalized email platforms that will allow bands – and nonprofit organizations – the ability to identify and reward their most faithful and…
Bisco Power Mission Takes HeadCount To New Places
Dating back to HeadCount’s 2004 launch, we viewed the organization’s ultimate purpose as stretching well beyond voter registration. Our very first action plan called for HeadCount to serve as a “grassroots organizing arm of the live music community.” Our purpose, in the broadest sense, was to foster civic participation among fans of live music and…
Fake Steve Jobs Introduces iSierra Music Festival
“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes…the ones who see things differently – they’re not fond of rules.” So sayeth Steve Jobs, the innovator affectionately parodied in this terrific video preview for this summer’s High Sierra Music Festival taking place July 1-4 in Quincy,…